Sensory-Friendly Performances

This past season, Charleston Stage was awarded $25,000 from Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts via the Boeing Vision Award for Charleston Stage’s Sensory-Friendly Performances performed at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. We were able to launch our first ever sensory-friendly performance season for special needs children and their families. It was a great success, and thus Charleston Stage is continuing the ongoing initiative for this underserved community by holding one performance for each of our three Family Series productions each season as a sensory-friendly performance.

The goal of this project is to educate and expose children on the Autism Spectrum and others with sensory sensitivities to the enrichment of live professional performing arts.

Children on the Autism Spectrum have what are described as sensory sensitivities. These sensitivities limit the educational exposure to live performing arts due to the nature of theatre etiquette and the large crowds it draws. The lack of exposure to these priceless arts education experiences is something Charleston Stage will remedy with our sensory-friendly performances, the first of its kind in the Lowcountry. By educating and raising these children up, we raise everyone up.

Children, families, teachers and therapists will have the opportunity to attend special live performances of Charleston Stage’s Family Series productions. Materials to enhance the educational value of the performances will accompany these productions.

Modeled after the same projects at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and Broadway, sensory-friendly performances are specifically designed to be comforting for those with sensory sensitivities. Some of what that entails includes altering the theatre environment, providing a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming to all families. The performance itself will be adjusted with special attention paid to lighting and sound.

Sensory-Friendly 3 Play Family Series Package: Now you and your family will enjoy the three sensory-friendly performances listed above for $72 per membership. Purchase online today by clicking here.

Performance Run Times: 1 Hour

How To Purchase Tickets? Tickets for the sensory-friendly performances go on sale September 25. Ticket sales will be available online by clicking on each specific sensory-friendly performance listed on each show calendar. Click on the show names above to access show calendars. You may also purchase tickes in person at the box office or by phone at (843) 577-7183 during box office hours (Monday – Friday from 1pm-5pm). Sensory-friendly 3 Play Family Series Packages are also available for sale by clicking here.